Essential books illuminating key periods of history, from the Romans to the Tudors to World War 1. Delve into the history of England with Peter Ackroyd, explore Britain’s forgotten multicultural past with David Olusoga, or uncover the violent rise of early Christianity with Catherine Nixey.
More to explore
Margaret George’s favourite stories of the Roman Empire.

John Connell

Kate Teltscher

Paul Cartledge

Natalie Haynes

Louis Rudd

Linda Porter

Simon Murray

Alexander Lee

George Orwell

George Orwell

Judith Flanders

P R Reid

George Orwell

Tim Murphy

Mason Currey

Max Hastings

Edward Snowden

Sophie Thérèse Ambler

Robert Service

Jackie Kay

Mary Seacole

Diana Preston

Geraint Jones

Anna Sherman

John Hudson

Douglas Smith

Frederick Taylor

Whitney Scharer

Marcus Aurelius

Violet Moller

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Simon Winder

Susannah Stapleton

Simon Winder

Simon Winder

Okakura Kakuzo
Sayuri Romei
Anna Sherman

Philipp Blom

David Nott

Peter Ackroyd

Mark Urban